stow

views updated Jun 08 2018

stow / stō/ • v. [tr.] pack or store (an object) carefully and neatly in a particular place: the bathhouse offers baskets in which to stow your clothes | she stowed the map away in the glove compartment.PHRASES: stow it! inf. used as a way of urging someone to be quiet or to stop doing something.PHRASAL VERBS: stow away conceal oneself on a ship, aircraft, or other passenger vehicle in order to travel secretly or without paying the fare: he stowed away on a ship bound for South Africa.

stow

views updated Jun 08 2018

stow †place XIV; put away to be stored XV; place (cargo) in a ship XVI. Aphetic of BESTOW; naut. sense perh. infl. by Du. stouwen.
Hence stowage XIV. Comp. stowaway person who hides in a ship. XIX; f. phr. s. (oneself) away.